I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

It was the next day.

“Your Grace, the enemies have appeared.”

His aide reported the enemy’s attack.

As expected, they don’t wait. Charter rose from his seat and headed out of the tent.

Handing over the telescope, his aide said, “Judging by the size of the sandstorm, it seems that there are at least 2,000 people on horseback. What shall we do?”

There was a great sandstorm from the horses’ hooves on the faraway plains. Charter opened the map and examined it. It was difficult to stop that many enemies with the current troops.

“How many troops have been deployed in the canyon?”

“There are 400 riflemen, 200 lancers, and 400 infantries.”

“Tell them to leave half of their troops and send them over here.”

“That will put us in danger.”

At his aide’s words, Charter frowned. “I know that too. But if the main camp is destroyed, it will be over.”

“When will the additional troops arrive?”

When asked by his aide, Charter said, staring at the sandstorm. “Well, I wonder about it too. Who will come?”

* * *

“Will the Baroness be alright?”

Madrenne replied sourly to Bein’s question. “Don’t worry. Even if she falls into hell, she will come back with a smile on her face.”

“…I see.”

Bein suggested the kidnapping plan, but he was worried inside. It was a really brilliant idea, but it was also risky.

Since the participation of Arianne and the second prince had been decided, there was no way that Duke Krow would let go of the second prince with this good opportunity. Bein came up with that idea as Arianne and the second prince decided to join. Let’s catch Duke Krow off guard.  

In the meantime, he didn’t know why the crown prince was involved, but he thought she would do well. Nevertheless, he couldn’t hide his concern. But Madrenne, who was unaware of such a plan, was so carefree and laid-back despite the fact that her master had disappeared.

“Aren’t you worried?”

Madrenne snorted at Bein’s question. “Huh, what to worry about? She even dragged me into the battlefield. I hope she sprained her ankle on the way.”

“What’s wrong with your words!”

“Why? Why can’t I say that?”

Madrenne, who had been looking at Bein, turned her head to look out the window. Naughty Lady, please come back alive and well. She tried hard to pretend she was relaxed, but in fact, Madrenne was also worried about Arianne.

Don’t leave me alone on the battlefield!

Or she wasn’t.

* * *

“Lancers, back to your position!”

“To your position!”

At the command, a group of troops stood with a long lance three times their height, fixed on the end of the lance to the ground, the other blade pointed diagonally upward and took up their stance. It was a position to deal with the enemy on horseback.

“Riflemen, to your position!”

“To your position!”

Riflemen took up positions behind the lancers.

“Infantries, to your position!”

“To your position!”

In line with the command, the infantries took their positions and prepared for the battle.

At the very back, the artilleries were ready to fire the cannons at any time. Fortunately, they could use cannons that weren’t easy to move as they fought close to the Harpion border.

At a distance of only 1 km, the Harpion Empire’s army and the Kelteman Empire’s army were facing each other. Charter was squinting at the intense sun rising high in the sky.

“It’s more than I expected.”

“Yes. It seems that they bring 4,000 cavalries and 10,000 infantries.”

Currently, the Harpion Empire’s army was only about 7,0000. Including the troops guarding the canyon, there were about 6,500 troops who had to deal with more than 10,000 enemy troops.”

Charter, standing in the vanguard, shouted loudly. “If we’re pushed back, the Harpion Empire will be in ruins. We have to stop them somehow. Riflemen conserve bullets and shoot carefully, think of taking out one person with one shot. The lances and infantries will block as much as possible and protect the riflemen.”

The troops’ eyes were filled with determination. It was easy to pledge to give one’s life to protect one’s family and empire, but how easy was it to immediately jump into the battlefield? However, when the duke in the highest position took the lead and commanded the battle, the troops’ morale rose quickly.

Tuutututu!

The sound of enemies’ footsteps was heard.

“Here they come! Everyone stays in your position! The lancers get ready! Artilleries, get ready! Prepare your rifles too!”

Rumble. A strong vibration shook the ground. The enemies began to move. Charter also aimed his rifle and waited for the enemy to come closer. Then, after confirming that the enemy was within range, he shouted. “Start artilleries bombardment!”

“Start shooting riflemen!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the Harpion Empire started shooting, the Kelteman Empire also started responding. Like barbaric people, they were good at shooting even while riding a horse.

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

“Heuk!”

Enemies, as well as allies, began to fall one after another.

“Don’t scatter the battle lines and hold on! Lancers! Get ready!”

Soon the cavalry of the Kelteman Empire clashed with the lancers.

“Hiiing!”

“Uaaargh!”

The scream of a horse in pain. And the shout of soldiers in spirit. Bang! Bang! The series of gunshot sounds. It was simply a fierce battle.

Charter threw away the rifle he was holding and grabbed his sword. He stabbed the horse of the enemy cavalry, who rushed over the spearmen and cut the enemy’s head. Subsequently, when the cavalry rushing in behind his comrade flinched at what happened to his comrade, Charter grabbed the horse rein, knocked him off his horse, and mounted the horse. He rode his horse toward the enemy and cut them down again and again.

The Harpion Empire’s army, who was such a sight, threw themselves into the battle and shouted as their morale rose again. A life-and-death battle unfolded. The corpses of horses and soldiers piled up on the ground, and the battle continued fiercely. At this rate, both enemies and allies would be dying.

It was right then.

“Uaaaaah!”

“Help your allies! Defeat the enemies!”

Finally, the long-awaited troops of the Harpion Empire arrived. A sense of relief flashed through Charter’s stiffened face.

“The additional troops have arrived! All clear up their lines and drive out the enemies!”

“(Retreat! Retreat! All Kelteman’s army must retreat!)”

The enemy commander called for the retreat of the Kelteman Empire.

“Uaaaaaah!”

“Win! We win!”

“I’m still alive. Heuk.”

The troops cheered for victory in this fierce battle. Some sobbed with relief that they were still alive.

The Kelteman Empire’s army hastily retreated. The Harpion Empire’s army killed the remaining enemy troops that failed to retreat, clearing up the battlefield. The faces of the troops who gritted their teeth and collected the corpses of comrades were full of misery and anger.

Charter got down from the horse, approached the reinforcements, and asked, “Who led this reinforcement?”

One of the troops said, “His Highness Crown Prince and Second Prince. I heard that Marquis Hood, Count Blanc, Viscount Bening, and Baroness Devit participated in the war.”

Charter’s eyes widened. “Did you just say Baroness Devit?”

“Yes.”

Charter looked at the battlefield in a hurry. Viscount Bening approached him as he was looking for Arianne.

“There you are. I’m glad we arrived on time.”

“Where is Baroness Devit?”

“Yes? Ah, that’s…”

Viscount Being was speechless and averted his gaze. Charter, who felt strange about it, pressed him. “Where is Baroness Devit now!”

Viscount Bening bit his lower lip tightly at Charter’s shouting and opened his mouth after thinking about how to say it. “That’s… She was riding in a carriage with the second prince, but they disappeared on the way.”

“What? So no one knows where they are now?”

“…Yes. Marquis Hood is looking for them with his soldiers, but we haven’t heard about them yet.”

“Ha.”

He couldn’t believe it. He was in a state of despair as to why she headed to the battlefield and disappeared on the way.

“No way…”

The worst-case scenario came to his mind. He pictured her with Luiden being ambushed by Duke Krow.

“No. I have to find her.”

Viscount Bening, who saw him collapse rapidly, stopped him. “Duke! You shouldn’t do that. I understand how you feel, but defending the frontline is the priority right now.”

A boiling voice flowed from Charter’s throat. “You understand how I feel? That’s funny. You will never understand.”

He participated in the war without even spending his first night with his beloved wife. It was his choice to defend her and the empire. But… she was in danger on the way here?

“I will entrust you with the command.”

“Duke!”

Charter turned away from Viscount Bening, who tried to stop him and found a horse to go looking for Arianne. As soon as he got on his horse and was about to leave, he saw a familiar face in his eyes.

“I have something to tell you.”

It was Bein.

“So, to avoid the enemy’s surprise attack, she hit first and staged a kidnapping act?”

“Yes. Sir Dale is with her, so you don’t have to worry.”

Although they moved separately now, Bein was unaware of the sudden change in plan.

Only then was Charter relieved. Her plan was really extraordinary to catch the enemy off guard. Of course, even her allies, including him, were deceived. Although he couldn’t see that she was completely safe, as long as it went according to her plan, he assumed that Arianne would arrive without much trouble.

It was a relief. Charter almost lost his temper and left the battlefield. What Charter felt was sincere because she was really precious to him. Sitting on a horse and staring into the distance, he tried to guess where she was now.

“The additional troops and supplies have arrived today, so let everyone relax and rest! You can enjoy the joy of victory! Of course, the guardsmen are an exception.”

“Uuaah~”

“Woow!”

When a battle was won, it was also important to comfort allies for their hard work and boost their morale, so Charter provided wine and meat to the troops.

“Did you see that earlier? The enemy cavalries. Even on horseback, they shot very well. After all, they’re barbaric, right?”

“That’s right. I ignored them as barbarians, but they are really no ordinary people.”

“Let’s stay alert too.”

The troops laughed, chatted, and drank about what happened in today’s battle.

“They don’t talk about the dead.”

When Viscount Bening said it, Charter replied. “Everyone has the dead in their hearts. The person they laughed with and chatted with until this morning died, so there’s no way they wouldn’t think about it. They just don’t show it.”

They couldn’t carry on with the rest of the battle whenever they lost a comrade, drowning in sorrow and grief. Everyone knew that fact, so they pretended to be bright and buried their dead comrades in their hearts. Because the war isn’t over yet.

At that time, a group of people began to move, taking advantage of the noise of everyone sitting in front of a campfire, drinking and chatting. They left the camp silently and disappeared toward the canyon.